On Tuesday, 5 September 2023, the House debated the amendments made by the Opposition to the Energy Bill [Lords]. There were 5  votes for the Opposition's amendments. The Bill makes provisions about energy production and security and the regulation of the energy market, including provisions about the licensing of carbon dioxide transport and storage; about commercial arrangements for carbon capture and storage and for hydrogen production and transportation; about new technology, including low-carbon heat schemes and hydrogen grid trials, etc. The 5 amendments which were voted down by the Government are:

Ayes: 192  Nos: 316 New Clause 12 negatived (lost) 

Ayes  235  Noes 306 - New Clause 39 negatived.

Ayes  188  Noes 310 New Clause 57 negatived.

Ayes: 223  Noes 310 New Clause 59 negatived.

Ayes 189   Noes 305 New Clause 61 negatived.

The Bill passed its Third reading 280 to 19. I abstained on that vote. 

I was a member of the Committee scrutinising The Draft Human Medicines (Amendment Relating to Original Pack Dispensing) (England and Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2023  on Tuesday 5 September 2023 relating to the  Human Medicines Regulations 2012 which set out when medicines need to be prescription only and the requirements of pharmacists selling or supplying prescription-only medicines. This draft statutory instrument makes two amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations. First, it enables original pack dispensing of medicine when original packaging is required. Secondly, it requires whole-pack dispensing of medicines containing valproate.

I asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Maria Caulfield MP, "The Minister gave the example of 28 days or 30 days. Will pharmacists be able to explain to patients that they will not necessarily have to take them for 30 days?". My concern was that if extra tablets were included in although helping pharmacists, those taking them shoudl have it explained to them that they should only take those that are prescribed. The Minister confirmed the pharmacists will explain this to patients. 

The Minister responded by saying, "Absolutely, and pharmacists are very keen to do this. This will often be used for repeat medication. A GP may prescribe a month’s pack—which, depending on the supplier, will be for either 28 days or 30 days—but when dispensing the packs the pharmacist will be able to give advice to patients so that they are absolutely clear on the instructions, which will also be written on the pack."

 

 I visited the Daily Mile Drop-In which was held in Parliament on Tuesday 5 September 2023 and met the founder of the Daily Mile, Elaine Wyllie MBE, who is also the founder of the Foundation. I also spoke with  Gordon Banks, the Global Director of The Daily Mile Foundation pictured above.  

The Daily Mile was set up in 2012 starting with a single school in Scotland, and now 46% of schools across England have signed up with the ambition to grow more. The Daily Mile works with students, parents, and teachers to bring the benefits of being physically active.

There are 4151 children from primary schools across Walsall South who take part in the Daily Mile, a programme that helps children learn, feel better, and be more active with schools across the country taking part.  

I was delighted to hear from the Daily Mile team that these schools in Walsall South are taking part:

Pheasey Park Farm
Meadow View JMI
King Charles Primary School
Bentley West Primary School
Park Hall Junior Academy
Delves Junior School
Palfrey Junior School
Palfrey Infant School
Woods Bank Academy
Blue Coat Infant School

The team at The Daily Mile coordinates activities and supports schools around the UK to take part and will give support to schools who want to take part.

To find out more about how to start the Daily Mile which is in addition to PE lessons visit TheDailyMile.co.uk or you can email Sam Payne, the Program Coordinator, at '[email protected]'. 

I will be writing to all the Schools to encourage them to take part in the Daily Mile.  

I am pictured ( below) with Fiona Paterson, UK Partnership Manager at the Daily Mile Foundation.

The House of Commons debated and voted on the Lords amendments to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill on Monday, 4 September 2023, and I voted against the Government's motions to disagree with or amend the Lords amendments. The Bill was introduced to make Companies House hold more reliable data concerning companies and entities registered in the UK such as limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and limited partnerships (LPs). The Bill also aims to broaden the powers of Companies House to check, remove, or decline information submitted to, or already on, the register. However, the Government's amendments do not go far enough, with amendment (a) to Lord Garnier's amendment 151 exempting all businesses that do not qualify as "large organisations" from the 'failure to prevent fraud' offence. This would essentially exempt 99.5% of businesses in the UK from being liable for fraud. 

The votes were as follows:

Ayes: 295 -Noes: 205 Amendment (a) made to Lords amendment 23. 

Ayes: 297 -Noes:209 Amendment (a) made to Lords amendment 151.

Ayes: 294 - Noes: 206 Lords amendment 117 disagreed to.

Ayes:291 - Noes: 209 Lords amendment 159 disagreed to.

Ayes: 292 -Noes: 206 Lords amendment 161 disagreed to.

The Bill has been passed back to the Lords for Consideration of Commons amendments.

I would like to congratulate all students in Walsall receiving their A-level and BTEC results!  No matter what grades you receive, they do not define you. There is no such thing as a "low-value" degree, as the Government is suggesting. This was a great effort by all who sat the exams, the teachers who taught them, and family that supported them!

Our students have worked exceptionally hard throughout the past few years - they should be very proud of all they have achieved this year, and I wish them the very best of luck for the future!